Sports Related Concussions
A concussion is an injury to the brain that can be caused by a blow to the head, a jolt or hard hit to the body, or whiplash type event. Your child does not need to have a loss of consciousness for his/her injury to be a concussion. A concussion is not a “brain bruise.” A concussion is a change in the way the brain works. While concussions are generally not life threatening, the effects can be serious.
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea / Vomiting
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Balance problems
- Fatigue
- Sleeping more or less than normal
- Memory problems
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Mood swings
Why Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine?
Just like no two children are the same, neither are concussions. When you choose Cincinnati Children’s Sports Medicine for the management of your child’s concussion you will receive individualized treatment which may include:
- A physical examination
- ImPACT™ Testing* or other neuro-psychological testing
- Balance testing
- A plan for gradual return sports
Returning to Play
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common brain injury in sports is a concussion. About 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year. Deciding on the right time to return to activity can be difficult. Using all the information gathered during the evaluation, our team will develop a specific plan to ease the young athlete back into full activity quickly and safely.
More about ImPACT™
ImPACT™ testing provides computerized neurocognitive assessment tools and services that are used by medical doctors, psychologists, athletic trainers, and other licensed healthcare professionals to assist them in determining an athlete's ability to return to play after suffering a concussion. We also offer pre-injury baseline testing. A baseline ImPACT™ test is like a sports physical for your brain. There is a fee for service and it usually takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
To schedule a baseline ImPACT™ test for your athlete or sports team, contact us via email sportsmed@cchmc.org.
